A diverse supplier base brings a fresh perspective that can lead to
cutting-edge innovations and help accelerate the development of new
vehicles

Ford's Supplier Diversity Development (SDD) program celebrates 35 years
of cultivating successful relationships between the company and its
minority-, women- and veteran-owned supplier businesses.

Ford has spent $67 billion through the
program since its launch in 1978, working with 400-plus diverse and
minority suppliers; more than 25 of these companies have been doing
business with Ford for more than 20 years.

"Diversity and inclusion are keys to our success at Ford," said Alan Mulally, Ford president and CEO. "For 35
years we have been committed to building a supplier base that reflects our
employees, our customers and our shareholders. A broad and diverse supplier
base reinforces our commitment to the communities where we live and
work."

The SDD program empowers entrepreneurs like John
A. James by providing them with the resources to be successful. For
instance, Ford sold James 23 used diesel trucks from its private fleet to
use for his trucking business in 1972. James, an African-American veteran,
is chairman, CEO and founder of an international supply chain logistics
company, James Group International. He has worked with Ford since 1972
â€“ a year after he founded his first business.

"Minority-, women- and veteran-owned businesses have made substantial
contributions to Ford's profitable growth," said Tony Brown, group vice president, global
purchasing. "James Group International is an outstanding example of how our
SDD program partners us with the best suppliers in the world, which has
helped us produce quality vehicles over the last 35 years for our
customers."

By identifying high-potential minority-, women- and veteran-owned
businesses and giving them the resources to be successful, Ford can tap a
fresh perspective that can lead to cutting-edge innovation and help
accelerate the development of vehicles.

"Our SDD program is a win-win for everyone involved," said Brown. "We're
all working together to foster new business relationships that will
contribute to the greater good, leading to new opportunities for expansion
and growth."

Some notable examples of technologies that stemmed from Ford's SDD
program include:

GDC: Owned by Loretta Miller and
based in Goshen, Ind., GDC specializes in
utilizing green technology (i.e. recycled tires) in plastic and
rubber-formed products. GDC helped develop a product incorporating coconut
shells and fibers that was used in Ford Super Duty

Systrand Manufacturing: Owned by Sharon
Cannarsa and based in Brownstown,
Mich., Systrand is producing machined parts for the Ford hybrid
transmissions that will be used in the 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid and C-MAX
Energi plug-in hybrid

In 2012 Ford exceeded its sourcing goals by purchasing $5.7 billion in goods and services from
minority-owned suppliers, $1.2 billion in
goods and services from women-owned suppliers, and $2.1 billion from suppliers who in turn source
business from minority- and women-owned companies.

Looking ahead, veterans are a key focus for the SDD program. Ford is
committed to spending 3 percent of its U.S. purchasing budget with
qualified veteran-owned businesses.

"If anyone understands teamwork and getting the job done, it's our men
and women who have served and continue to serve in the armed forces," said
Carla Preston, SDD program director. "We
believe the success of Ford Motor Company largely depends on enabling
people and businesses of all kinds to succeed and share in the One Ford
plan of profitable growth for all â€“ particularly our veteran
suppliers. We look forward to continuing our successful supplier
partnerships that mirror the communities that build and sell our vehicles
around the country."